- Only one entry per contestant is permitted for entry each year.
- Five entries may be submitted by each Institution (University/Polytechnic/Monotechnic) through respective Heads of Department.
- The projects submitted must have been completed during the current year of awards (1st October 2009 to 30th September 2010) and must not have been previously published.
- Complete contact information, including student registration number, department, email, residency status in the last four years, should accompany each submission.
- Abstracts of proposed projects no longer than 500 words are to be submitted to respective Heads of Departments of each Institution by 1st of March, 2010.
- Heads of Departments will inform successful short listed candidates two (2) weeks after of the submission deadline to enable them proceed with developing their final project papers.
- Final papers are to be submitted in Microsoft Word as a .doc file for onward electronic transmission to the GeoQinetiq Expert Panel of Judges.
- Deadline for submission of final project papers by the short listed candidates is 30th September 2010 to their Heads of Departments.
In all cases judges shall evaluate the entries based on the practicality of the projects. The paper accompanying the entry should serve to illustrate the value of the project itself, though the judges will also be looking to evaluate the skill of the author in communicating clearly, the vision, thematic engagement and general contribution to the development of the country of the project submitted.
Papers shall describe a completed practical project, be not more than 20 pages in length and will be rated based on the following criteria:
- Originality
- Use of geomatics equipment/instruments
- Practical value/industry/national development impact
- Conciseness and clarity of expression
- General interest
GeoQinetiq intends that the Geomatics Gold Medal and Prize Award will be the pre-eminent student science/technology prize in Nigeria. The judging process, its integrity and fairness will contribute to the prestige and esteem of the prizes.
To achieve this, the judging process must be and be seen to be fair, open and transparent.
The GeoQinetiq Geomatics Gold Medal and Prize Advisory Board is saddled with the responsibility for maintaining the reputation, integrity and sustainability of the GeoQinetiq Geomatics Gold Medal and Prize. Members of this board will meet from time to time to decide on the operations of the Geomatics Gold Medal and Prize. The Board is also responsible for deciding on the further appointments of members to the advisory board, as well as all appointments to the expert panel of judges. The GeoQinetiq Geomatics Gold Medal and Prize advisory board is initially composed as follows:
- Prof. Nicholas Damachi – Hon. Perm. Sec., Office of the Head of Service of the Federation
- Prof. Ruqayatu Rufai'I - Hon. Minister for Education, Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Juliet Ezechie – Managing Director, GeoQinetiq
- Prof. Abdullahi Mahadi – Vice Chancellor, University of Gombe
- Jerome Okolo, Executive Vice Chairman, GeoQinetiq
- Hon. Farouk Lawan – Chairman, Education Committee of the Federal House of Representatives
- Prof. Mahmood Yakubu – Executive Secretary, Education Trust Fund
An expert panel of judges has been appointed by the company to judge the first GeoQinetiq Geomatics Gold Medal and Prize. Changes to this panel will be made from time to time, as it is deemed fit by the advisory board of the GeoQinetiq Geomatics Gold Medal and Prize.
The mandate of the advisory board is to appoint respected academics, national leaders in the field of technical education and/or practitioners, known for their objectivity, broad knowledge of Geomatics, engineering and National Education Policies and Standards. They should be experienced in evaluating practical Geomatics projects and scientific writing and unlikely to be influenced by the reputation, position or previous achievements of the competing students and their faculties.
Once the expert panel of judges is appointed for each year, they will be fully in charge of the judging process and awards, without interference from the advisory committee or any quarters whatsoever.
Appointment of judges will be by secret ballot by members of the advisory committee who will meet from time to time to review the rules and progress of the prize and to ratify the appointment of judges. The expert panel of judges is presently comprised as follows:
- Prof. Christian Ezeigbo, B.Sc. (Nigeria); M.Sc., PhD (Lagos) – Chairman, Nigerian Association of Geodesy
- Prof. Francis Fajemirokun, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Nigeria); PhD (Ohio) – President, Nigerian Union of Planetary and Radio Sciences
- Prof. L. K. Jeje, B.A. (Ibadan), Ph.D. (Edinburgh) – Professor of Geomorphology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife
- Prof. Peter Nwilo B.Sc., M.Sc. (Lagos); PhD (Salford) – Associate Professor, Dept of Geoinformatics, University of Lagos
- Surveyor Mohammed N. Yahaya – Member, Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reforms, Pioneer Registrar, Surveyors Council of Nigeria, emeritus Surveyor General of the Federation
- Dr. Nuru Yakubu, B.Sc. (Camborne); M.Sc., Ph.D. (Imperial) – National Coordinator, Nigeria, for the UNESCO TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (TVET) programme
- Kpam J. Sokpo – Technical Manager, GeoQinetiq
Expert panel decisions for each category will be announced as one prize-winner and two runners-up/recipients of honourable mention. The expert panel of Judges will jointly prepare a written report on the selected projects. They are encouraged to include general observations on submissions to individual categories and anything else that may be helpful in promoting Geomatics. The panel of judges will announce their final decision at the awards ceremony.
The panel will not be bound to announce a winner in any category if it does not find any of the entries worthy of the award. The judges will announce the winners at GeoQinetiq Geomatics Award Night, of which the dates and venues will be published in the national dailies at least six (6) weeks before planned date.
